A three-dimensional simulation of the effects of obstacle blockage ratio on the explosion wave in a tunnel

Abstract

In this paper, a three-dimensional simulation has been performed to investigate the potential consequences of flammable vapor explosion in a tunnel with an obstacle, the obstacle with different area blockage ratios (10, 20, 30 and 40%). The blast wave shape, increase in the maximum explosion overpressure, and the arrival time of peak pressure in the vicinity of the obstacle with different blockage ratios have been characterized. The simulation results show that the configuration of the blast wave was remarkably compressed due to the effects of obstacle and the deformation process which can be divided into four stages. The influence of blockage ratio on the maximum overpressure and the arrival time of peak pressure were mainly reflected in the back of the obstacle 1 m from the ground, and the maximum overpressure for this location decreases as the blockage ratio increases. Meanwhile, the maximum overpressure of 10% blockage ratio is 57% higher than that of 40% blockage ratio for the location of the back of obstacle. The arrival time of peak pressures for the location of the back of obstacle is delayed as the blockage ratio increases. The maximum overpressure under the tunnel ceiling showed an opposite trend between the location of the front of the obstacle and the location behind the obstacle. In the front of the obstacle, the maximum overpressure under the tunnel ceiling increases as the blockage ratio increases; however, it decreases as the blockage ratio increases in the back of the obstacle. What’s more, the comparison of this paper’s data and the results from available are published. It was found that the simulation results in this article are consistent with the experimental results of studies.